November 30th - December 4th, 2011 | Pioneer Courthouse Square | Portland, Oregon

More than 50 potent winter ales are featured at this year's event, all of which are created specifically to bring warmth and cheer to the holiday season. These aren't beers you'll find in the supermarket - our brewers have put together special recipes just for the Holiday Ale Festival.

Sunday Brunch Beers

Sunday Brunch Beers

The Sunday Brunch Beers are exclusive to the Sunday Beer Brunch, which requires a separate admission. These beers are generally of Belgian-style to be well paired with the featured European-style brunch menu. In addition to the tap offerings, there are also some 6L-9L bottle-conditioned Belgian beers that get uncorked to put the finishing touches on the incredible Sunday Beer Brunch event.

  • St. Feuillien

    St. Feuillien
    Triple 9L Salmanazar (2009)

    Strong Belgian-Style TripelABV: 8.5%
    This beer has a white, smooth and very compact head. Its pale amber color is very characteristic revealing a distinctive maltiness. It has a rich aroma with a unique combination of aromatic hops, spices and the typical fruity bouquet of Belgian-style fermentation. Secondary fermentation in the bottle gives it a unique aroma due to the presence of yeast.

    Le Roeulx, Belgium st-feuillien.com BeerAdvocate RateBeer

    This benchmark-style Belgian triple bottle has been cellar-aged for 3 years, elevating this beer above its peers. The hallmark maltiness has given way to a crisp refreshing dryness that lingers on the palate, while the champagne like bubbles carry the hop aroma throughout the beer ending with a soft dry floral note. This is a great opportunity for the group to share a beer."

    Holiday Ale Festival

    NOTICE: This is a Special 2009 Vintage 9-Liter Salmanazar that will pour at 12:00pm!

  • Abbaye du Val-Dieu

    Abbaye du Val-Dieu
    Grand Cru 6L Methuselah (2006)

    Belgian Abbey Quadrupel AleABV: 10.5%
    Dating from 1216, the only non-Trappist brewing abbey in Belgium is Cistercian Abbaye du Val-Dieu (Valley of God). This monastery, and on-site brewery, is near the village of Aubel, in the region known for Herve cheese, between the cities of Belgium's Liege, Holland's Maastricht and Germany's Aachen. Based on the original recipe perfected centuries ago by the abbey monks, all ales are bottle conditioned, unfiltered and unpasteurized.

    Puurs, Belgium www.val-dieu.com BeerAdvocate RateBeer

    This bottle-conditioned Belgian dark quadrupel ale is a classic example of Belgian winter beers. Its rich malt profile with notes of chocolate, port and spice are over the top when fresh, this vintage version will have mellowed nicely. This dark Belgian winter beer is like coming inside from the cold night and sitting by the fire, it will warm you up. Five years in the cellar is just starting to do this beer justice."

    Holiday Ale Festival

    NOTICE: This is a Special 2006 Vintage 6-Liter Methuselah that will pour at 12:15pm!

  • Chimay

    Chimay
    Grande Reserve 1.5L Magnums (2007)

    Belgian-Style Strong AleABV: 9.0%
    From one of only 6 authentic Belgian Trappist Monastery's, the Chimay "Grande Reserve" is a dark rich beer with a powerful aroma and a complex flavor which improves over the years. It was first brewed as a Christmas beer in 1948, explaining the presence of a "vintage" beer that became the Grande Reserve in 1982.

    Baileux, Belgium chimay.com BeerAdvocate RateBeer

    This vintage strong ale is one of the first we ever had the chance to taste a vintage of and was instrumental in developing our vintage bottle cellar. Deep dark fruits, caramels and slight hints of yeast that lead to light dry finish that make this just the right desert beer to share after a big meal with friends. "

    Holiday Ale Festival

    NOTICE: Desert Special of Vintage 2007 1.5-Liter Magnums that will pour at 12:30pm!

  • Brasserie Dupont

    Brasserie Dupont
    Avec Les Bons Voeux (2010)

    SaisonABV: 9.5%
    Translation: "With the best wishes of the Brewery Dupont". This is their Christmas beer, a Christmas Saision if you will. The effervescence brings forth a lemony nose with hints of clove, banana and pepper. Its malty richness stays on the tongue until the next sip. This very complex, yet extremely drinkable "winter saison" comes across at 9.5%.

    Leuze-Pipaix, Belgium brasserie-dupont.com BeerAdvocate RateBeer

    A year in the cellar has tempered the spices slightly and made this beer a much more balanced experience. Always a great beer, just a little better now. Perfect inspirational beer after all the gifts have been open, and before the clean up begins!"

    Holiday Ale Festival
  • Great Divide Brewing

    Great Divide Brewing
    Espresso Oak-Aged Yeti (2008)

    Barrel-Aged Imperial StoutABV: 9.5% • IBUs: 75
    A generous infusion of local Denver espresso adds yet another layer of complexity to this beer, combining with the vanilla oak character, intense roasty maltiness and bold hop profile to create a whole new breed of mythical creature.

    Denver, CO greatdivide.com BeerAdvocate RateBeer

    This one is from the deepest recesses of the cellar. We would expect some of the Espresso notes to have subsided and for huge milk and dark chocolate notes to be almost overpowering. Looks like you won't have to choose between a beer or an Espresso to start the day!"

    Holiday Ale Festival
  • Cascade Brewing Barrel House

    Cascade Brewing Barrel House
    Cherry Apple Pie

    Barrel-Aged Sour AleABV: 7.5% • IBUs: 45
    A blend of blonde ales aged with four different varieties of apples and vintage apple beer with fresh Bing cherries added later. Sweet notes of apple flesh with hints of cinnamon and cherry skins greet you in the nose. Crisp apple skins, sweet malts, lemon and dark cherries on the palate finish with a sharp apple tartness, cinnamon and graham cracker.

    Portland, OR cascadebrewing.com

    You know the old adage: An apple a day..."

    Holiday Ale Festival
  • Brouwerij Huyghe

    Brouwerij Huyghe
    Delerium Noel

    Belgian Strong Dark AleABV: 10.0%
    With its combination of an invigoratingly sharp and peppery character, stirring bitterness and that rare, crisp winter freshness of flavor, your inevitable fondness for the subtle, yet familiar nuances of Delirium Noel will last through the seasons! Be sure to make plans to stay in when you pour out this memorable holiday beer, as its hefty alcohol content should keep you from going out in the cold more so than any blizzard ever could!

    Melle, Belgium delirium.be BeerAdvocate RateBeer

    A spicy, crimson brew that completes the Delirium Trilogy (including Tremens and Nocturnum), Delirium Noel will bring color and zest back to the cold winter months and to your cheeks."

    Holiday Ale Festival